ASE Committees

In addition to the ASE Trustees and Education Group, ASE has several dedicated committees and specialist groups. Their expertise and experience forms part of ASE’s voice.

You could also be part of setting the agenda for ASE’s activity in providing professional learning across science education. See our call for nominations. If you can lend your experience, then please get in touch. Our committees and groups meet 3 times a year either virutally or face to face. View ASE's committee calendar.

About the committees

Committee Chair

Science Education 11-19 Committee

This Committee advises and supports teachers of science in secondary schools. The Committee is interested in all aspects of the curriculum, including assessment and examinations and supports NQTs, classroom teachers, Science Leaders, HoDs, advisers and inspectors.

This Committee is a dynamic and creative group at the cutting edge of primary science, which seeks to promote best practice in the teaching of science in primary schools. It provides advice and support to policy makers, teachers, science co-ordinators and curriculum developers. The Committee supports anyone interested in primary science, especially classroom teachers, head teachers and experienced providers of both ITT and CPD. from across the UK and Northern Ireland to join us, as we seek to influence policy at a national level.

As part of our work we plan the Primary Programme for Annual Conference, respond to questions from our members and publish advice (see our recent guidance on sex education and assessment), we represent the views of primary members across all parts of the UK and respond to government consultations on the curriculum and assessment.

The group supports members with experience of research in science education, it's members contribute to or lead group projects. This may include organising conference sessions, writing research articles and books for members, and giving advice to officers and members.

This group is committed to raising the profile of ASE and promoting and supporting membership through its books. Its members make the publishing decisions and considers proposals from potential authors. An individual group member acts as a link with the author during the preparation of a book. Working together with the ASE publishing staff and within a policy framework, such links ensure that each publication comes up to the high standards of ASE. This group gives classroom practictioners the opportunity to get involved with educational publishing.

This expert group gives advice to members on all matters relating to health and safety in science education. This is achieved principally through books that the Group writes and publishes through ASE. The Group is an authority in the field of best safe practice in practical school science, and it is respected nationally and internationally. The nominees need to have worked in school or college science for at least three years, and have taught practical science, or directly supported the teaching of practical science. The group promotes high quality safe practical science.

This Committee co-ordinates the Association’s activities for its technician members. As well as providing advice and support to technicians, it organises the National Technicians’ Conference and the Technician Programme at the ASE Annual Conference. They continue to promote the role of science technicians in schools and are committed to technicians' continued professional development.

This expert group provides support and voice for Initial Teacher Education and Continuing professional development, fostering high quality professional learning for future generations of science teachers at all levels of education. This is achieved through research, networking and professional development within and beyond the group, and through responses to government consultations. The committee organises the ASE Futures Conference. Members receive the Science Teacher Education (STE) journal. ASE Futures is a new group formed within ASE. Former members of the Association of Tutors in Science Education (ATSE) and National Advisers and Inspectors Group for Science (NAIGS) have automatic membership of the group. These groups formally amalgamated in June 2016.